Ladle trap chamber and tilting dispenser

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an automatic ladler for delivering major quantities of molten metal to a die casting machine, which ladler comprises a ladle adapted to be completely filled and then rotated a predetermined amount for pouring out a measured quantity of the molten metal.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor Richard.].0tt

Baroda, Mich.

" m n m n. a we WXaU OUea HKRL 82300 566 9999 11.1.1 I/// 59200 3952 338 ,9 5 78 6 79 3 1 233 81 .h 67cc 9 n 1 1M 9 0 9 a 56mm s nsr zp ea7AJRB 0 d% N. ma e d .1 P mas AFPA Primary Examiner--Stanley H. TollbergAssistant Examine -Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-Olson, Trexler, Wolters& Bushnell a corporation of Michigan [54] LADLE TRAP CHAMBER AND TILTINGDISPENSER 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

222/357, 164/336 lnt. G01f1l/00 ABSTRACT: There is disclosed anautomatic ladler for [50] Field ofSearch............ 222/166, deliveringmajor quantities of molten metal to a die casting 167, 172, 174, 353,357, 358, 457,462,460, 461, machine, which ladler comprises a ladleadapted to be 572; 198/(lnquired); 164/136, 336, 337; 141/364,completely filled and then rotated a predetermined amount 365; 221/262for pouring out a measured quantity of the molten metal.

PATENTED A QM 35561354 sum 1 [1F 3 LADLE TRAP caAMss t AND rltrtuomsrssssa The present invention relates to a no vel.ladling apparatus.and more specifically to a novel automatic ladling apparatusparticularly suitable for liquid or molten materials such as moltenmetal.

While various uses for ladling apparatus incorporating features of thepresentinventionmay suggest themselves, it is 4 contemplated that theapparatus is particularlyisuitable for delivering molten metal to a diecasting machine. in die casting a metal such as aluminum. it has beencommon practice in v the past to-delivefimoltenmetal intoashot cylinderof thedie" castin'g machine by means of a hand ladle. Numerous attemptshave been made to provide automatic ladlingequipment, but

the results of suchattempts have had limitations and have not beenentirely'satisfactory. l

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novelautomaticladli ng apparatus which is suitable for use with diecastingr'na'chines and the like and withfurnaces for holding moltenmetal of various designs and presently in existence or being installed.t

Another important object'of the present invention is to provide a novelautomatic ladling apparatus which is capable of delivering accuratelymeasured amountsof molten metal and which may be easily and quicklyadjusted for delivering different amountsof metal'whenever a die changeis made.

A still further object of the pi'esent invention is to provide a novelautomatic ladlingapparatus which is of relatively simple andeconomicalconstruction-andwhich may be easily main-.

tion installed between a die casting machine' and a holding furnace formolten metal: a

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially brokenaway,showing the installation of FIG; I and farther showing in brokenlines the manner in which theladling apparatus may be manipulated; V

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the ladling apparatus as viewedfrom the right-hand end of FIG. 2;' I

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary 'end elevational view showing the manner inwhich a ladle member of the apparatus may beinverted during a ladlingoperation; a t

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the ladle member of theapparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary generally along line 6-6 in FIG. I; a

FlG.7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 in FIG. 6; andt i V i FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 inFIG. 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various FlGS., anautomatic ladling apparatus 10 incorporating features of the presentinvention is shown in an installation in FIGS. 1 and 2 which alsoincludes a die casting machine 12 and a molten metal holding furnace 14.The machine 12 and holding furnace may be of a'variety of knownconstructions and need not be described in detail.

it suffices to state that the die casting machine llhas a fixed platenl6 and a movable platen 18 adapted to be shifted between the closedposition shown in FIG. I and an open posh tion in a known manner. Theseplatens carry complementary die members 20 and 22. In order to introducemolten metal into the closed die. a shot cylinder or sleeve 24 isconnected with the fixed platen which sleeve is adapted to receivemolten metal from the ladling apparatus as described below. A pistonsectional view taken shot sleeveinto thc.dic.' q

261s slidably disposed within-the sleeve and is actuated by a mechanism,not shown, for forcing the molten metalfrom the The holding furnace I4is provided with heating ms; and

suitable controls for maintaining a -body of metal in a moltencondition. The furnacehas an openupper end 28 so that a ladle member ofthe apparatusl0 maybe dipped into the body i I of molten metal as willbe described below. a in the embodiment shown, the ladlingapparatus hasa has 30 with a downwardly extending stem 32 adapted to be received andvertically adjustably held in a floor mounted stand 34. It is to beunderstood that. in certain instances, the base 30 may be adapted formounting directlyon a portion of the die casting machine or otherequipment in connection with which it is installed. I

I Upright bracket members 36 and 38-are welded orothen. wise fixed tothebase -30 and extend therefrom in spaced apart parallel relationshipas shown in F IGS. Z-and 3: A pivot pin 40 extends through upper ends ofthc bra cket members and pivotally supports an inverted channel member42' on which is mounted an elongatedcylindrical sleeve-or bearinghousing" 44. A fluid pressure actuated cylinder 46 'and complementarypiston 48 are disposed between the base. and channel members and arepivotally connected thereto at 50 andSZ. Upon opera tion of the cylinderin the manner described below.'the channel member 42 and the partscarried thereby are adapted to be pivoted between thefull and brokenline positions shown in FIG. 2.

The sleeve or bearing housing 44 bearings 54 and 56 disposed inoppositeends thereof forrotatably'supporting a tubular shaft 58. The shaft isfixed againstaxial displacement relative to the housing 44 by a thrustbearing ring 59 secured to the shaft by set screws 60 and abutting anend. portion of the bearing 54. A similar thrust bearing ring 62 isfixed to anopposite end portion of the hollow shaft. by set screws. 64for" abutting the bearing 56. a A gear or sprocket 66 is secured to oneend portion of the hollow shaft 58 as shown in FIGS. l. 2 and 6. Anendless chain .68 extends around the sprocket and also around a secondsprocket 7.0-flxed on an output shaft 72 of a motor 74'. The

' motor 74 is mounted on a platform 76 secured by brackets 78 tothechannel member 42. The motor may be of known construction and it maybean electric motor or a pneumatic or hydraulic fluid motor and isadapted to be controlled for rotating the hollow shaft 58 in the mannerdescribed below.

A tube 80 extends through the hollow shaft and is supported in spacedrelation thereto by means of the previously mentioned set screws 60 and64. The resulting air space insulates the shaft 58 from the tube 80which becomes hot during a ladling operation. One outwardly extendingand of the tube has a flange 82 welded or otherwise fixed thereto. Aladle member 84 isremovably and replaceably secured against this flangeby a plurality of bolts 86.

An opposite end portion 88 of the tube 80 extends toward the shotcylinder or sleeve 24 of the die casting machine and is adapted tocooperate with a funnel member 90 secured to the shot cylinder andcommunicating with an inlet opening 92 in the upper side thereof. in theembodiment shown. the funnel member is in the form of an elbow having aninternal diameter similar to and greater than the external diameter ofthe end portion of the ladle tube 80. The funnel member is cut away asindicated at 94 for providing a saddle 96 into which the end portion ofthe Indie tube is adapted to fit during a molten metal dispensingoperation.

The ladle member 84 has a flange portion 98 adapted to mate with thepreviously mentioned flange 82 and a generally semicylindrical bodyportion having opposite end walls 100 and 102, a sidewall I04 and a topwall 106. The top wall traverses only about one-half of thescmicylindrical body and merges with a tapering semicylindrical outletor f annel section 108 which communicates with a discharge opening "0through the flange 98. An opposite margin "2 of the section 108terminates well short of the adjacent edge of the sidewall 104 so as toprovide the ladle with a relatively wide mouth 114.

With the structure described above. molten metal is delivered from thefurnace 14 to shot cylinder by first pivoting the housing 44 and theladle tube from the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 in a clockwisedirection to the broken line position in which the ladle member issubmerged in the liquid or molten metalv The ladle member is them filledas the molten metal flows inwardly through the open mouth 114. Uponreverse operation of the cylinder 46, the ladle assembly is pivoted in acounterclockwise direction around the pivot pin 40 so as to bring theend portion 88 of the ladle tube into regis tration with the funnelmember 90 as shown in the remaining broken line portion of P16. 2.

When the ladle tube engages the funnel member 90, the motor 74 isactuated for rotating the ladle tube and the ladle member from theposition shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 toward the inverted position shown inFIG. 4. As this rotation progresses, the molten metal flows from thebody portion of the ladle member into the funnel or outlet section 108thereof and then through the tube 80 to the shot cylinder. Uponcompletion of this pouring operation. the motor 74 is reversed forreturning the ladle member to its normal upright position.

When the ladle member is dipped into the body of molten material asindicated in H0. 2, it is substantially completely filled. 1n order tocontrol and adjust the amount of molten metal actually delivered to theshot cylinder of the die casting machine, means is provided forcontrolling the amount which the ladle member is rotated during thedispensing operation. In other words. when it is desired to dischargethe full contents of the ladle member. the motor 74 is actuated so as tocompletely invert the ladle member as shown in FIG. 4. However, when itis desired to dispense a lesser amount of the molten metal. the motor 74is controlled for stopping rotation of the ladle member at someintermediate position. Further adjustment may be obtained by replacingthe ladle member 84 with another of different size and having either alarger or smaller capacity.

In order to control rotation of the ladle and thus the dispensingoperation, means is secured for rotation in unison with the shaft 58 andfor actuating a limit switch structure 116 shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 whichin turn is secured to a suitable bracket 118 fixed to the channel member42. 1n the embodiment shown, the means rotatable with the shaft 58comprises ring means 120 preferably formed from electrical insulatingmaterial and fixed to the shaft 58 adjacent one end thereof. A first camelement 122 is mounted on the ring means 120 be a screw device 124extending into a circumferentially extending slot 126 in the ring meanswhereby the position ofthe cam circumferentially of the ring means maybe adjusted. Another cam element 128 is mounted in a fixed position onthe circumference of the ring means by a suitable fastener 130. Thecircumferentially adjustable cam element 120 is adapted to engage alimit switch 132 of the switch structure 116 while the cam element 120is adapted to engage and actuate a limit switch 134 of the switchstructure. These switches are in turn connected with a motor controldevice 136 which may be in the form of electrical relay means orsolenoid actuated valve means depending on whether the motor 74 is anelectric motor or a fluid actuated motor. The control device 136 whichis shown schematically in FIG. 7 is, of course, suitably connected withsources of electrical power or fluid under pressure and with the motor74 by known means which need not be shown or described in detail.

The limit switches and control device shown schematically in FIG. 7 forma part of an overall electrical or fluid control system. as the case maybe. which is adapted to control not only the motor 74 but also the fluidcylinder 78. Furthermore, this control system may be interconnected withthe control system of the die casting machine 12 so that the ladlingapparatus operates automatically in timed relationship with the diecasting machine. The components of the control system, whether they beelectrical or fluid pressure devices, may be of known constructionand-need not be shown. The arrangement is such that when the cycle ofthe die casting machine is initiated by shifting the movable platen 18toward the closed position. the fluid actuated cylinder 46 is operatedto pivot the ladling mechanism so as to dip the ladle into the bath ofmolten metal as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

The system has a suitable time delay device which functions to reversethe operation of the cylinder 78 after an interval of time which issufficient to insure complete filling of the ladle member 84. Thisreversal-causes the ladling apparatus to be pivoted in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 so as to shift the endportion 88 of the ladling tube into engagement with the saddleportion'of the funnel 90. As soon as this is accomplished. the motor 74is energized for rotating the ladle member 84 in a clockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 3. As this rotation progresses, the molten metal inthe ladle member flows into the section 108 and then through the tube tothe shot cylinder 24. Rotation of the ladle member continues until thecam element 122 closes the limit switch 132 which energizes the controldevice 136 for reversing the motor 74. if it is desired to discharge theentire contents of the ladle member into the shot cylinder, the camelement 122 is adjusted to a position to permit the ladle member to berotated to the completely inverted position shown in FIG. 4. On theother hand if it is desired to dispense only a portion of the metal inthe ladle member, the cam element 122 is adjusted to close the limitswitch when the ladle member is rotated to any desired position betweenthe upright and inverted positions respectively shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.in this manner accurately measured quantities of the molten metal may bedischarged into the shot cylinder 24.

When the cam element 122 engages the switch 132 for reversing therotation of the ladle member, the control circuit also functions toactuate the cylinder 46 for pivoting the ladling mechanism to the solidline position shown in H0. 2. The reverse rotation of the ladle memberis terminated upon engagement of the cam element with the limit switch134 and the apparatus is then ready for the next cycle.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it is obvious that many structural details may bechanged without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appendedclaims.

1 claim:

1. A ladling apparatus comprising a ladle member, means supporting saidladle member for movement between lowered and elevated positions and forrotation around a generally horizontal axis, and means for actuatingsaid ladle member for dipping it into a liquid to be dispensed, forrasing the ladle member to said elevated position and for rotating saidladle member about said axis for dispensing the liquid therein, saidmeans supporting said ladle member including a tube having one endconnected with a discharge portion of said ladle.

member and an opposite end for extending to a point at which the liquidis to be dispensed, means rotatably supporting said tube for rotationabout said axis, and means pivotally supporting said tube about an axisextending transversely of said first- 2. A ladling apparatus, as definedin claim 1, wherein said support means further includes a base member,housing means pivotally and rotatably supporting said tube, said meanspivotally supporting the tube including pivot means between said housingmeans and said base member, and said means for dipping and raising theladle member comprises actuating means between said housing means andsaid base member for pivoting the housing means about the secondmentioned axis.

3. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 2, wherein said means forrotating the ladle member comprises motor means carried by and movablewith said housing means, and drive means between said motor means andsaid tube.

4. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 3, which includes motorcontrol means for limiting rotation of the motor, and

. '3 ,556,354 v 6' means movable in response to rotation of the ladlemember T a funnel member disposed at the point at which the liquid is tofor actuating the control means for reversing the motor during be dispns a C mp sing a Saddle portion for registering a dispensing operationto thereby control the amount of liquid with 1 opposite end of saidtubc'durmg liquid dispensing dispensed. 1 I opcrmlon- I 5. A ladlingapparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes 5

1. A ladling apparatus comprising a ladle member, means supporting saidladle member for movement between lowered and elevated positions and forrotation around a generally horizontal axis, and means for actuatingsaid ladle mEmber for dipping it into a liquid to be dispensed, forrasing the ladle member to said elevated position and for rotating saidladle member about said axis for dispensing the liquid therein, saidmeans supporting said ladle member including a tube having one endconnected with a discharge portion of said ladle member and an oppositeend for extending to a point at which the liquid is to be dispensed,means rotatably supporting said tube for rotation about said axis, andmeans pivotally supporting said tube about an axis extendingtransversely of said first-mentioned axis and spaced from saidfirst-mentioned end so that upon pivotal movement of the tube about saidlast-mentioned axis, said ladle member may be raised and lowered.
 2. Aladling apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support meansfurther includes a base member, housing means pivotally and rotatablysupporting said tube, said means pivotally supporting the tube includingpivot means between said housing means and said base member, and saidmeans for dipping and raising the ladle member comprises actuating meansbetween said housing means and said base member for pivoting the housingmeans about the second mentioned axis.
 3. A ladling apparatus, asdefined in claim 2, wherein said means for rotating the ladle membercomprises motor means carried by and movable with said housing means,and drive means between said motor means and said tube.
 4. A ladlingapparatus, as defined in claim 3, which includes motor control means forlimiting rotation of the motor, and means movable in response torotation of the ladle member for actuating the control means forreversing the motor during a dispensing operation to thereby control theamount of liquid dispensed.
 5. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim1, which includes a funnel member disposed at the point at which theliquid is to be dispensed and comprising a saddle portion forregistering with the opposite end of said tube during a liquiddispensing operation.